Hermetically-sealed coffin.



PATENTE) MAY z3, 190,5. C. H. HsER.

HERMBTIGALLY SEALED comm.

APPLICATION FILED APB..20.1904.

Witness@ No.. l790,729.

STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

CHARLES H. HISER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRING- FIELD METALLIC CASKET COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A COR- PORATION OF OHIO.

HERNIETICALLY-SEALED COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 790,729, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed April 20, 1904. Serial No. 204,001.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HisER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hermetically-Sealed Coflins, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of undertaking specialties, and particularly to sealing'- io packages for undertakers use, and is especially adapted to be used in connection with devices shown in my application, Serial No. 201,854, filed April e, 1904..

In the course of professional work the undei-taker frequently finds it desirable tohermetically seal coiiins, caskets, 0r grave-vaults, air-hardening cement being used. As generally employed the sealing-cement has to be mixed on the ground and used rapidly, bezo cause it begins to set as soon as applied.

The object of my invention is to arrange a sealing device so that it may be readily and safely transported without deleterious effects and after being transported can be combined 2 5 with the flanges of the top and bottom portions of the coffin, so as to constitute an improved hermetically-sealed cofn.

To this end my invention consists of the construction and combination of parts and 3o substances or their equivalents hereinafter described, and set forth in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure lis a sectional perspective View of a portion of the sealingiianges of a grave-vault with my sealing-package in position and prepared for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sealing-package, partly broken away. Fig. 3Y is a sectional view through the exterior casing of the package.

2:Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference in the several views.

In the drawings, c represents the sealingchannel about the lower part ofthe gravevault, casket, or coffin, and c the sealingchannel of the lid, which is adapted to inclose the lower channel.

rIhe sealing material b is an air-hardening cement, which under ordinary circumstances is not only disagreeable and inconvenient to handle, but as usually employed must be 5o mixed at the grave and applied by workmen under circumstances and conditions which make it difficult to secure the proper sealing. To mold this sealing material b to a shape and size suitable for use in the sealing-channel a, and to cause it to retain this form and to place it in a condition more convenient for handling, I inclose the sealing material in an extended bag or tube formed from thin paper of durable texture, but adapted to be readily severed, so as to permit it to exert its sealing effect without removing the covering. It has been found that the most practical way to accomplish this is to first form the tube and then fill it in the manner of and by means similar to that employed for stufiing sausages. After the tube which is formed with the closed end 52, is filled it is closed with a cap b3. This, however, might be accomplished by folding in the end of the tube or otherwise, and the 7o entire tube, with its contents, is coated with an air-proofing substance b4, Fig. 3, preferably by dipping the entire tube in melted paraffin.

To afford protection in shipping and as an additional security against deterioration, the air-proofed tube and contents are inclosed in a tubular casing c, preferably of pulp or strawboard, with closed ends, which in turn is treated to a coat c of air-proofing substance in a similar manner to the tube W hen the sealing-package is to be used, it is only necessary to remove the tube from the casing c, lay it in the sealing-channel of the grave-vault, coffin, or casket, and with a knife or other sharp instrument slit the tube b lengthwise in one or more places, so as to expose the sealing material, as shown in Fig. 1. When the lid is placed in proper position with the inner channel formed in thelid engaging the surface of the cement, the cement is readily pressed into proper shape to form an air-tight joint. It Will thus be seen that I provide a coffin-sealing device molded and retained in proper shape and free from the deteriorating effects of the air and adapted with the lid portion whereby after the tube is severed the particles of sealing material Within said tube Will be displaced by said lid, and the shape be changed so as to form an airtight joint.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April, A. D( 1904.

CHARLES H. HISER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I. WELCH, CLIFTON P. GRANT. 

